Evaluation of pharmacy school applicants whose first language is not English,” ibid

The number of pharmacy applicants whose first language is not English (AFNE) appears to be increasing. Simultaneously, schools are preparing students to practice pharmaceutical care, a practice philosophy which relies upon effective communication skills. The goal of this study was to investigate whether first language status was relevant in predicting success at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Pharmacy. Past admissions data were examined from previous VCU Pharmacy students and compared to Pharmacy GPA or number of honors received in clinical rotations using simple, multivariate, and logistic regression analysis. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the use of high school rank, or math GPA and verbal test scores were predictive of number of honors received in clinical rotations. The following variables were predictive of Pharmacy GPA when used in combination: PCAT biology, chemistry, and verbal scores, biology GPA, chemistry GPA, high school rank, and SAT verbal score (race was marginally predictive). The student’s first language was not predictive of either the number of honors received in clinical rotations or Pharmacy GPA, and was therefore not a useful criterion for determining success in the Pharmacy curriculum